Combined castanet and tambourine



y 18, 1954 s. D. GIBSON 2,678,517

COMBINED CASTANET AND TAMBOURINE Filed March 26, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-477)This, invention relates to a combined castanet and tambourine. Moreparticularly it relates to a. combined castanet and tambourine whereinthe. soundboard elements of the castanet are fixed rather than movableand wherein the tambourine elements move between such soundboardelements to product the sounds characteristic of a castanet.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improvedcombined castanet and tambourine of simple and cheap construction andcapable of easy manipulation.

A more specific object is to provide a combined castanet and tambourinerequiring a minimum of parts and capable of being utilized in aproficient manner with a minimum of training on the part of the user.

Another object is to provide a castanet wherein the user need not attainany material skill in the manipulation of his fingers.

Another object is to provide a combined castanet and tambourine of smalldimensions, capable of improved performance, and constructed tofacilitate the production of sounds characteristic of a tambourine andcastanet by a relatively inexperienced user.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be moreapparent from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention with aportion of the upper soundboard element broken away to show the relationof the tambourine elements thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same with the outer end portionshown in section to more clearly depict its structure.

Qne embodiment of my invention may include as shown in Figs. 1-2 a pairof spaced soundboard elements 5 and 5 mounted on the outer end portionof a handle member indicated generally as 3. As shown these soundboardelements 5 and 5 are rigidly secured to the outer end portion 1 inspaced and fixed relation with respect to each other. As best shown inFig. 2 each of these soundboard elements 5 and 5 is formed integrallywith the wooden handle 8. The inner surfaces 50. and of the soundboardelements are flat.

Extending between the soundboard elements 5 and i5 and mounted thereinin fixed position is a guide pin 9. This guide pin 9 carries at least apair of separate concavely shaped metallic discs ill in piercingrelation thereto.

The outer edge portions ll of each of the discs Ill extend approximatelyparallel to the soundboards 5 and 6 and to each other to register witheach other along these portions. As best shown in Fig. 2 each of thediscs of a pair are mounted on the guide pin- 9 to face each other. Theapertures l2 of the discs is are suificiently large so that each of thediscs is mounted loosely on the guide pin 9 to permit the discs tovibrate and move slightly in a direction radial to the guide pin 9.

The outer end surface of the outer end portion '5 which is disposedbetween the soundboard elements 5 and 6 is hollowed out concavely as atI3. This hollowed out portion is shaped in a manner comparable toamphitheater construction.

In operation the combined castanets and tambourine shown may be movedrapidly backwardly and forwardly in the same general direction as thatin which the guide pin 9 extends to produce sounds characteristic of acastanet. When this is done the two pairs of discs It shown in Fig. 2will move backwardly and forwardly as a unit between the soundboardelements 5 and E, causing a sharp clacking sound to be emittedtherefrom. These sharp clacking sounds caused by the striking of thesediscs against the soundboard elements 5 and 6 is highly characteristicof the sound of a castanet produced by clapping together the edges of apair of concavely shaped castanet shells. It is substantially simpler toproduce the desired sounds by manipulating the handle 3 than it is tolearn how to manipulate a pair of castanet shells which are movable withrespect to each other. The tone of the sound produced by my combinedcastanet and tambourine is substantially the same as that produced byclapping together two wooden castanet shells.

When it is desired to produce sounds characteristic of a tambourine theuser of the combined castanet and tambourine needs only to move thedevice backward and forward in a direction generally normal to thelongitudinal center of the guide pin 9. Such movement will cause thediscs it to vibrate with respect to the guide pin 9 and with respect toeach other thereby producing the desired jingling sounds. Here again theproduction of such sounds is made substantially simpler through the useof my device.

The concavely shaped end portion 5 of my device is constructed tomaintain the clarity and distinctness of each of the sounds produced. Atthe same time it serves to amplify the sounds of the above constructionwhich would be normally produced if the end portion were not so shaped.

It should be noted that my combined tambourine and castanet areextremely compact and easy to manipulate. A relatively inexperiencedperson may use such a combined castanet and tambourine as is shownherein at a high degree of proficiency Within a very short time. Itshould also be noted that in contrast to the conventional type ofcastanet the soundboard elements in my instrument are fixed with respectto each other and the tambourine elements, or discs are utilized toproduce the clacking sounds characteristic of a castanet. It isunderstood of course that any guideway which will maintain the discs 10in proper position with respect to each other might be used to supplantthe guide pin 9.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention.

What I hereby claim is:

A combined castanet and tambourine comprising a wooden handl memberbifurcated at one end to form a pair of soundboard elements in fixed andspaced relation to each other, the outer ends of said elements beingfree, at least a pair of separate concavely shaped metallic discs ofapproximately equal diameters, and a guide pin extending between saidsoundboard elements and carrying said discs in piercing relation, saiddiscs being mounted on said pin for free sliding movement therealongbetween and against said soundboard elements when said handle member ismoved sharply in the general direction along which said pin extends toproduce sounds characteristic of a castanet and facing each other andbeing mounted loosely on said pin for free vibratory movement withrespect to each other when said handle member is moved backwardly andforwardly in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal center ofsaid pin to cooperatively produce sounds characteristic of a tambourine,the portion of said handl member extending between and connecting saidsoundboard elements being disposed opposite said discs and said guidepin and being concavely formed in a direction parallel to said pin andin a direction normal to said pin to amplify and maintain the clarityand distinctness of each of said sounds.

References Cited in the file of this patent Di Angele June 7, 1949

